The Cowley College Board of Trustees approved the purchase of 30 automated external defibrillators and received updates on student success and campus initiatives during its regular meeting Monday evening.
Trustees voted 7-0 to purchase 20 replacement AED units and 10 new units from First Responders KS at a cost of $49,890, using capital outlay funds.
The board met in the President’s Dining Room inside the McAtee Dining Center on the Arkansas City campus. Trustee Stanley Cochran delivered the invocation, and board Chair Dr. Alan Marcotte recited the college mission statement.
During awards and reports, President Dr. Michelle Schoon highlighted recent accomplishments, including an eighth-place national finish by the Quiz Bowl team at the NAQT community college championship. The college also hosted the JAG-K Region 4 conference with more than 200 students in attendance, along with a spring job and transfer fair.
Schoon also recognized Trustee McGregor as outgoing board chairman and introduced March Student of the Month Nathan Curran.
Government Affairs Liaison Jessica Lucas provided a legislative update.
In administrative reports, ACES hosted its annual food packaging event this month, with volunteers assembling 20,000 meals for distribution through Cowley County food pantries and blessing boxes.
Athletics also recorded strong finishes, with the men’s wrestling team placing seventh — its highest-ever national finish — at the NJCAA Division I championships, and the women’s track and field team placing ninth at the NJCAA indoor national meet.
No public comment was offered.
Under committee reports, Trustee Joe Shriver recapped the March 9 finance subcommittee meeting. Trustees discussed tuition, fees and housing rates for the 2026-27 academic year and voted 7-0 to delay approval until after the state budget is finalized.
Trustee Stan Cochran reported on the March 10 academic subcommittee meeting, where members approved edits to business and social science course procedures and a new course, CRJ 5425 Student Patrol Practicum I. Continue below ad.
Chair Gary Wilson summarized the March 12 policy subcommittee meeting, where several policies — including at-will employment, personnel classification and academic advising — received first review. Final approval is expected in April.
The board approved the consent agenda by a 7-0 vote. Items included minutes from the Feb. 16 meeting, financial reports, bills and claims, personnel transactions and revisions to policies related to insurance and student account bad debt write-offs.
During the discussion agenda, Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration Holly Harper provided an insurance update related to damage from a summer hailstorm.
With no further business, Marcotte adjourned the meeting at 6:36 p.m.
